J.D. ALKIRE, banker, Greenview; was born in Menard Co., Ill., Feb. 10, 1832; he is the youngest son of Leonard and Catharine, (Davis) Alkire, who came from Ohio to Illinois in 1823, and settled in Sugar Grove; here our subject passed his youth and early manhood on the farm of his father; he received such education as could be obtained from the schools of that early day; at the age of 19, he and his brother Leonard built a storeroom in the then newly laid-out town of Sweetwater, and put in a general stock of goods. Neither had had any experience in the mercantile business; and, strange as it may seem, they succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectation; they continued in this business for a period of eight years, when they sold the store and contents to William Engle & Son; not long after, they bought out Engle & Son, and continued in business for more than a year; they then sold out to a Mr. Whipp. In all of these transactions they were very successful, making money at every change they made; this was about a year 1862; then for a period of eleven years, the two brothers engaged in farming and the live-stock trade; in this, as in mercantile business, they were very successful; about this time they went to the Far West where they improved a large ranch, and handled a large number of sheep; at the end of two and a half years, the partnership that had existed between the brothers, for a period of twenty-four years, ceased - J.D., our subject, taking the property they owned in Menard Co, Ill., and his brother the ranch and stock in Colorado; after J.D. Alkire's return to his native State, he, and his eldest brother, Milem, stated a private bank in the village of Greenview; this was the first enterprise of that kind in Eastern Menard Co.; they continued in business one year, with a capital of $100,000; at the expiration of that time they dissolved, and a new bank was started, under the name of Marbold, Alkire & Co.; this is one of the best and safest banking-houses in the State, representing a capital of $150,000.

He was united in marriage with Caroline D. Stone, April 15, 1860; she is a native of Bath Co., Ky.; from this union there were nine children, seven of whom are now living - William P., John D., Eva E., Henry, Ethalinda, Mary E., and a babe not named; the names of those deceased were Edwin D. and Ida H. Mr. Alkire is one of the Menard Co.'s wealthiest and most respected citizens, and a self-made man. A Democrat in politics, but quite liberal in his views.